MONTANA WINTERING RAPTOR WORKSHOP
Western Montana boasts one of the largest concentrations of wintering birds of prey in northwestern United States. The Mission Valley, located about 55 miles north of Missoula, and 20 miles south of Polson, is a concentration area for these birds. This workshop is limited to only 10 people.
Thirteen species of diurnal birds of prey winter in the valley, including; EAGLES: Bald and Golden; FALCONS: Gyr, Peregrine, Prairie, Merlin and Kestrel; ACCIPITERS: Goshawk, Coopers, Sharp-shinned; HARRIER: Northern Harrier; BUTEOS: Red-tailed, Rough-legged, and occasionally Ferruginous Hawk.
Jan. 8-12, 2026
$2,495
5
DAYS
Key highlights will include:
• Falcon Identification:
While five species of falcons winter in the valley, spotting all of them in one day can be a challenge. We’ll focus on identifying adult falcons, as well as the tricky subspecies of Peregrine and Merlin.
• Accipiter Insights:
Learn to distinguish between the three accipiter species—Goshawk, Cooper’s, and Sharp-shinned Hawks. The subtle differences between adults and juveniles, particularly the always challenging Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned, will be discussed in depth.
• Northern Harrier Observation:
Watch as Northern Harriers glide gracefully over the valley’s vegetation. We’ll guide you through the nuances of identifying males, females, and immature birds, including the challenges of sexing immature Harriers.
• Rough-legged Hawk Study:
The Mission Valley is renowned for hosting the world’s largest communal roosting sites of wintering Rough-legged Hawks. We will spend time discussing the plumage variation of this species and work on identifying males, females, and immatures.
• Red-tailed Hawk Exploration:
With their wide color variation, Red-tailed Hawks are a common but complex species to identify. We will help you navigate through the color morphs—from the striking Harlan’s (black and white morphs), to the Rufous and Brown morphs—and understand the intricacies of sex and age identification.
Whether you’re an experienced raptor watcher or new to birding, this workshop promises a unique and enriching experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with nature and enhance your raptor identification skills in one of the most spectacular raptor habitats in the country!
OVERVIEW:
Day 1: Arrival & Dinner
Day 2-4: Field workshops and wildlife excursions
Day 5: Concluding activities and departure
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - THUR. DEC 8: Welcome
Arrive in Missoula. Travel arrangements from the airport to your hotel are available through the Doubletree Hotel. We will meet at 6 pm in the Doubletree lobby, and have dinner at the hotel restaurant – Finn and Porter.
DAY 2 - FRI. DEC 9: MISSOULA & MISSION VALLEY
After breakfast, bring your luggage to the lobby at 9:00. We will depart for the sixty-mile drive to Charlo. First however, we’ll drive the side-streets of Missoula, spotting for Merlin, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks. If lucky, Pygmy Owls also winter in the city. These predators winter in Missoula and feed on sparrows, finches, starlings, and wintering flocks of Bohemian Waxwings. These Waxwings are a treat for anyone and we will spend some time looking at them.
After that, we’ll drive north casually looking for other birds of prey. We stop for lunch somewhere along the road. Once in the Mission Valley – our destination, we’ll look for all birds of prey. We’ll going over identification techniques, and spend the entire day in the field. We will arrive at out lodge in late afternoon. We’ll then meet in the lounge at 6 pm for cocktails. From there, we will have dinner at the Ninepipes Lodge around 6:30 pm.
DAY 3 - SAT. DEC 10: MISSION VALLEY
After a continental breakfast, we will meet in the Ninepipes lobby at 9 am. We will spend the day in the field, going over identification techniques we learned the day before. We will continue driving the back-roads, trying to locate species we didn’t see on day 2. We’ll have lunch somewhere at one of the many small towns we travel through. We will return again by late afternoon to rest. We will meet in the lobby at 5:30 pm and will have dinner at the Ninepipes Lodge.
DAY 4 - SUN, DEC 11: MISSION & MISSOULA VALLEYs
After breakfast, we will meet in the lobby at 9 am. Your baggage should be packed and ready to go. We will depart for Missoula, stopping along the way to revisit some places and explore some new areas. Once in Missoula, and if time allows, we will drive the neighborhoods and again look for Merlins, Coopers, Sharp-shinned hawks and Northern Pygmy Owl. We will enjoy a farewell dinner tonight at Finn & Porter.
NIGHT: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Missoula
